Universe
11th Edition
ISBN: 9781319039448
Author: Robert Geller, Roger Freedman, William J. Kaufmann
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
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Chapter 8, Problem 3Q
To determine
To explain: The interstellar medium and how it got enriched over time with heavy elements.
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The dust in the dust clouds in intersteller space consists of?
a. atomic gas
b. molecular gas
c. tiny solid grains
d. pieces of ice ranging from several meters to a kilometer in diameter
Based on what you know about observations of the interstellar medium at wavelengths other than for visible light, select all of the correct statements from the following list.
-The 21-cm radio observations are of neutral hydrogen.
-Much interstellar dust between stars is not visible.
-The source of hot gas observed at X-ray wavelengths is not known.
-All interstellar material is cool.
-Interstellar dust is observed at ultraviolet wavelengths.
-Giant molecular clouds consist mostly of CO molecules.
-Material observed at wavelengths longer than that of visible light is usually cool.
Chapter 8 Solutions
Universe
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Ch. 8 - Prob. 11CCCh. 8 - Prob. 12CCCh. 8 - Prob. 1QCh. 8 - Prob. 2QCh. 8 - Prob. 3QCh. 8 - Prob. 4QCh. 8 - Prob. 5QCh. 8 - Prob. 6QCh. 8 - Prob. 7QCh. 8 - Prob. 8QCh. 8 - Prob. 9QCh. 8 - Prob. 10QCh. 8 - Prob. 11QCh. 8 - Prob. 12QCh. 8 - Prob. 13QCh. 8 - Prob. 14QCh. 8 - Prob. 15QCh. 8 - Prob. 16QCh. 8 - Prob. 17QCh. 8 - Prob. 18QCh. 8 - Prob. 19QCh. 8 - Prob. 20QCh. 8 - Prob. 21QCh. 8 - Prob. 22QCh. 8 - Prob. 23QCh. 8 - Prob. 24QCh. 8 - Prob. 25QCh. 8 - Prob. 26QCh. 8 - Prob. 27QCh. 8 - Prob. 28QCh. 8 - Prob. 29QCh. 8 - Prob. 30QCh. 8 - Prob. 31QCh. 8 - Prob. 32QCh. 8 - Prob. 33QCh. 8 - Prob. 34QCh. 8 - Prob. 35QCh. 8 - Prob. 36QCh. 8 - Prob. 37QCh. 8 - Prob. 38QCh. 8 - Prob. 39QCh. 8 - Prob. 40QCh. 8 - Prob. 41QCh. 8 - Prob. 42QCh. 8 - Prob. 43QCh. 8 - Prob. 44QCh. 8 - Prob. 45QCh. 8 - Prob. 46QCh. 8 - Prob. 47QCh. 8 - Prob. 48QCh. 8 - Prob. 49QCh. 8 - Prob. 50QCh. 8 - Prob. 51QCh. 8 - Prob. 52Q
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- The mass of the interstellar medium is determined by a balance between sources (which add mass) and sinks (which remove it). Make a table listing the major sources and sinks, and briefly explain each one.arrow_forwardPrepare a table listing the different ways in which dust and gas can be detected in interstellar space.arrow_forwardA molecular cloud is about 1000 times denser than the average of the interstellar medium. Let’s compare this difference in densities to something more familiar. Air has a density of about 1 kg/m3, so something 1000 times denser than air would have a density of about 1000 kg/m3. How does this compare to the typical density of water? Of granite? (You can find figures for these densities on the internet.) Is the density difference between a molecular cloud and the interstellar medium larger or smaller than the density difference between air and water or granite?arrow_forward
- Describe how the 21-cm line of hydrogen is formed. Why is this line such an important tool for understanding the interstellar medium?arrow_forwardSuppose that you gathered a ball of interstellar gas that was equal to the size of Earth (a radius of about 6000 km). If this gas has a density of 1 hydrogen atom per cm3, typical of the interstellar medium, how would its mass compare to the mass of a bowling ball (5 or 6 kg)? How about if it had the typical density of the Local Bubble, about 0.01 atoms per cm3? The volume of a sphere is V=(4/3)R3 .arrow_forwardConsider a grain of sand that contains 1 mg of oxygen (a typical amount for a medium-sized sand grain, since sand is mostly SiO2). How many oxygen atoms does the grain contain? What is the radius of the sphere you would have to spread them out over if you wanted them to have the same density as the interstellar medium, about 1 atom per cm3? You can look up the mass of an oxygen atom.arrow_forward
- Describe the characteristics of the various kinds of interstellar gas (HII regions, neutral hydrogen clouds, ultra-hot gas clouds, and molecular clouds).arrow_forwardHow would the density inside a cold cloud (T=10K) compare with the density of the ultra-hot interstellar gas (T=106K) if they were in pressure equilibrium? (It takes a large cloud to be able to shield its interior from heating so that it can be at such a low temperature.) (Hint: In pressure equilibrium, the two regions must have nT equal, where n is the number of particles per unit volume and T is the temperature.) Which region do you think is more suitable for the creation of new stars? Why?arrow_forward
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